“Since I had the babies six years ago, I had that really stubborn 8 to 10 pounds on me," said Lopez. "People are used to seeing me be kind of thickish, but when I started eating [vegan], right away I dropped about 8-10 pounds."

Jennifer said she followed a 100% vegan diet for five weeks and felt incredible. "It was a real change," she said. "I felt better and people were like, ‘Your energy’s better.'"

Lopez has since begun incorporating some animal protein into her diet, but sticks to a mostly vegan diet because it has motivated her to eat more vegetables.

"The truth is, even if you’re 70-80 percent vegan, it’s so much better having those vegetables, greens, and plant-based stuff," said Jennifer. "It’s going to change your life and health.”

Lopez was so enthusiastic about going vegan that she put her entire family on the 100% plant-based diet, including her twins, Max and Emme, and her sister, Linda. Lopez substituted almond milk or rice milk for cow milk and ate vegan cheese instead of dairy cheese. Her diet also featured lots of greens, seeds, and nuts.

In addition to a healthy diet, Lopez maintains her age-defying physique with rigorous workouts. JLo, 45, does high-intensity cardio dance exercise with light strength-training using body weight and high repetitions done with light hand weights, said her trainer Tracy Anderson.

"Jennifer does the Tracy Anderson Method, which includes muscular structure work and between nine and 13 different exercises that change every 10 days, and dance aerobics as well," said Anderson. "I keep [her butt] toned and in position. We do planks, moving the legs and butt at different angles."

Lopez's foray into veganism was inspired by the 22-day vegan diet challenge Beyonce and Jay-Z undertook in December 2013. The 22-day vegan cleanse was designed by Beyonce's trainer, exercise physiologist Marco Borges, creator of the 22 Days vegan protein bars, which Beyonce is a huge fan of.

Beyonce and Jay-Z have since gone back to their regular eating plans, but Beyonce continues to eat one vegan meal a day, saying it helps her maintain her 65-pound post-baby weight loss.

Since going vegan, Samuel L. said he has never felt or looked better. "I feel great," he gushed. "I have a lot more energy than I used to have. I sleep better. I like the way I look in my clothes better. I don’t cramp as much. I exercise better. I think my circulation has gotten better.”

Jackson join a long list of celebrity vegans, including former president Bill Clinton, TV personality Al Sharpton, and actors Michelle Pfeiffer and Jared Leto. They have all credited the plant-based diet for giving them more energy, helping them lose weight, and staying youthful-looking.

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Samantha Chang is the executive editor and co-owner of www.theimproper.com., an arts and entertainment website in New York City. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Samantha enjoys running, cycling and taking photos. Contact her at schang@theImproper.com.